Written Answers to Questions

Tuesday 13 May 2014

Attorney-General

Crime: Nature Conservation

Mr Heath:
To ask the Attorney-General what steps he has taken to improve prosecution of wildlife crime. [904021]

The Solicitor-General:
The CPS views wildlife crime offences very seriously and will robustly prosecute cases referred by the police. In order to achieve this, the CPS has 13 wildlife co-ordinators based in its regional areas. They are supported by face to face training and legal guidance on wildlife offences, which is available to all prosecutors and to the public.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Philip Davies:
To ask the Attorney-General how many (a) men and (b) women have been (i) investigated, (ii) given an administrative penalty, (iii) given a caution and (iv) convicted in court for benefit fraud since the prosecution of such cases was transferred to the Law Officers' Department. [197836]

The Solicitor-General:
Allegations of benefit fraud are investigated by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Administrative penalties are financial penalties, which can be offered as an alternative to prosecution, where there has been no previous fraud penalty of any form. These are issued by the DWP and local authorities. Cautions are issued by the police.

The records held by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) identify the number of offences in which a prosecution commenced and, reached a first hearing in magistrates courts, rather than the number of defendants prosecuted and convicted or their gender.

No central records of the prosecution outcomes of offences are held by the CPS. To obtain details of the number of people prosecuted for and convicted of offences of benefit fraud, which can be charged under various sections of the Social Security Administration Act 1992, Section 35 of the Tax Credits Act 2002 or the Fraud Act 2006, including their gender, would require a manual exercise of reviewing individual case files to be undertaken at a disproportionate cost.

Furthermore, cases of benefit fraud are also prosecuted by local authorities so any data the CPS can glean from a manual exercise would not provide a complete record.

Women and Equalities

Equality and Human Rights Commission

Philip Davies:
To ask the Minister for Women if she will place in the Library a copy of the guidance currently issued to managers at the Equality and Human Rights Commission on managing a diverse workforce. [197840]

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Mrs Grant:
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is an independent body and is responsible for its own staff management, including diversity training. The guidance papers requested are internal documents that were not intended for wider publication. However, I have asked the EHRC to send copies to my hon. Friend.

Gender

Chi Onwurah:
To ask the Minister for Women what guidance she has given to other Departments on commissioning publicly-funded research into gender differences in brain development and functioning. [198267]

Mrs Grant:
I have given no guidance to other Departments on commissioning publicly-funded research into gender differences in brain development and functioning.

LGBT People

Mr Steve Reed:
To ask the Minister for Women what steps she is taking to advance equal rights for LGBT citizens in the EU; and if he will make a statement. [198168]

Jenny Willott:
The International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) continue to recognise the UK as the highest ranking country for human rights protection of LGBT people in Europe.

The UK Government is a member of the European Network of Governmental LGBT Focal Points which enables us to disseminate good practice and insight from the UK. Other members include European Union member states.

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 will recognise legally valid marriages of same sex couples formed in other European countries as legal marriages in England and Wales. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in liaison with the Government Equalities Office, is also carrying out an exercise to gain recognition of marriages of same sex couples formed in England and Wales overseas, including in other European Union member states.

Women's Business Council

Gloria De Piero:
To ask the Minister for Women how many times the Women’s Business Council has met in 2014; and how many times Ministers met that council in the last 12 months. [197766]

Jenny Willott:
The Women’s Business Council has already met on two occasions this year to progress the recommendations in its report published in 2013: on 5 March 2014 and 24 April 2014.

Women’s Business Council members have met with Minsters four times during the last 12 months.

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Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Bangladesh

Jim Fitzpatrick:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect on the UK's relationship with Bangladesh of the activities in the UK of Tareque Rahman, Vice Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. [198033]

Hugh Robertson:
The UK enjoys a broad and wide-ranging relationship with Bangladesh which is built on engagement with the Government of Bangladesh and Bangladesh political parties, business and cultural exchanges between our people. We work on a range of bilateral and global issues that include Bangladesh’s recent endorsement of the Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict. We are not aware of any activities by Mr Rahman that have had an impact on our bilateral relationship.

Brunei

Kerry McCarthy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) the Sultan of Brunei or (b) his representatives on the introduction of sharia criminal law in Brunei. [198032]

Mr Swire:
We remain concerned about the introduction of sharia criminal law in Brunei and have raised the matter with Brunei on several occasions. I raised the issue with Foreign Minister, Pehin Lim in October 2013. The Senior Minister of State, my right hon. and noble Friend Lady Warsi, visited Brunei and raised our concerns with HM The Sultan, Foreign Minister Prince Mohamed, the Attorney-General and State Mufti on 19 April. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, my hon. Friend the Member for North West Cambridgeshire (Mr Vara), discussed the implementation of sharia with Brunei’s Attorney-General at the Commonwealth Law Ministers meeting on 6 May. We set out our concerns at the Universal Periodic Review of Brunei at the Human Rights Council on 2 May. We will continue to raise this issue with the Bruneian authorities.

Burma

Chris Evans:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the situation for religious minorities in Burma. [198232]

Mr Swire:
British officials regularly receive reports on a wide range of human rights issues, including the treatment of religious minorities in Burma. We share UN Special Rapporteur for Burma Tomas Ojea Quintana’s concerns, as noted in his final report to the UN Human Rights Council on 2 April 2014, that the Burmese Government is

“not fulfilling its international human rights obligation to tackle incitement to violence based on national, racial or religious hatred”.

We are particularly concerned by the rise in anti-Muslim attacks and hate speech over the last two years, continued intercommunal tensions in Rakhine state and the plight

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of the Rohingya. I raised our wider concerns about the situation in Rakhine state with senior Burmese Ministers during their visit in January and Baroness Warsi discussed the situation with the Burmese Minister of National Planning and Economic Development, Dr Kan Zaw, during his visit to the UK in March. During my visit to Burma in January, I also met the Kachin Baptist Convention, the largest religious organisation in Kachin state. We continue to encourage religious tolerance and dialogue and call on the Burmese authorities and community leaders to help create a conducive environment for this to take place.

Commonwealth

Mr Douglas Alexander:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will convene a special session of Commonwealth representatives to discuss the suitability of President Rajapaksa as Chairperson in Office. [197767]

Mr Hague:
Any decision on the Chair-in-Office role is for all Commonwealth Heads of Government to take by consensus, and we have no plans to convene a session on this. On 27 March 2014, the UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution which establishes an international investigation, and calls on the Sri Lankan Government to make progress on human rights and reconciliation. We encourage the Sri Lankan Government to co-operate with the resolution and the investigation, which is led by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Egypt

Mr Douglas Alexander:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to his Egyptian counterpart about the sentencing to death of 683 people in that country. [197747]

Mr Hague:
The British Government are deeply concerned about the sentencing to death of 683 people by a court in Minya on 28 April. I made a statement on 28 April expressing my concern over the sentences and reports that some of the defendants may not have had adequate legal representation. On 2 April, during my last meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Fahmy, I raised the death sentences imposed on 529 people by the same court on 24 March, and asked the Egyptian Government to ensure that the defendants’ human and legal rights are properly upheld. The Government will continue to raise these concerns with the Egyptian Government.

Mr Douglas Alexander:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, regarding the EU monitoring mission to Egypt in advance of this month’s presidential elections. [197758]

Mr Hague:
Baroness Ashton briefed European Union member states on the Election Observation Mission (EOM) at the April EU Foreign Affairs Council. The EU has deployed an EOM to Egypt for the presidential

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elections scheduled on 26-27 May 2014, in response to an invitation by the Egyptian authorities. We support this deployment.

Iran

Michael Ellis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 6 May 2014, Official Report, column 72W, on Iran, if he will provide a detailed itemisation of works of art, antiquities, fixtures and fittings and other items of public property damaged or destroyed by rioters in HM embassy in Tehran in 2011. [198221]

Hugh Robertson:
The FCO is currently unable to provide a detailed breakdown of all items damaged or destroyed by rioters at the British embassy in Tehran in November 2011. Since visits to Tehran by UK officials recommenced on 3 December 2013—after a gap of two years—it has only been possible to conduct preliminary assessments of the condition of the embassy. A comprehensive assessment of the damage will require a detailed survey by a specialist. Planning is currently under way to conduct this survey as soon as is practical.

Morocco

Cathy Jamieson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the provisions of the EU Deep and Comprehensive Free trade Agreement with Morocco apply outside the sovereign territory of Morocco. [198209]

Hugh Robertson:
The terms of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement are currently being negotiated between the EU and the Kingdom of Morocco. The agreement is between the European Communities and their member states and the Kingdom of Morocco.

Nigeria

Alison McGovern:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of school-age girls in Nigeria abducted by Boko Haram or similar groups in each of the last five years. [197894]

Mark Simmonds:
While abductions by Boko Haram are not new, the scale of this recent abduction of over 200 school girls from Chibok School on 14 April was unprecedented. As most of the reported abductions in the last few years have taken place in remote areas, where communication is difficult, we have been unable to verify the details of how many have taken place or how many children have been abducted.

Chris Evans:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment his Department has made of the situation for religious minorities in northern Nigeria. [198231]

Mark Simmonds:
Conflict in northern Nigeria has caused great suffering in communities of different faiths and ethnicities. Representatives of the Government maintain regular contact with religious and ethnic community leaders across Nigeria. We recognise there are tensions in many parts of the country, including in the north-east, middle belt and the Niger Delta. Recent attacks by

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Boko Haram have been indiscriminate, but it is almost certain that these attacks have killed more Muslims than Christians.

We recognise the underlying issues of poverty and inequality, which lead to inter-communal tensions and conflict in Nigeria and we urge political, traditional and religious leaders to work together in order to resolve these issues. The Department for International Development (DFID), the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) continue to fund a range of conflict resolution projects across Nigeria designed to address these problems. We currently have an expert team in Abuja to help Nigeria deal with the abduction of the school girls from Chibok and to also look at addressing longer term challenges, including inter-communal tensions.

Nuclear Disarmament

Paul Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the steps he plans to take to remove UK nuclear weapons from deployment and their subsequent destruction. [198199]

Hugh Robertson:
The Government committed in 2010 to reduce the UK’s nuclear weapons stockpile by the mid 2020s, down to no more than 120 operationally available warheads and no more than 180 warheads. Nevertheless, the United Kingdom will retain a credible, continuous and effective minimum nuclear deterrent for as long as the global security situation makes that necessary. The 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review sets out the Government’s approach in more detail.

Official Visits

Mr Slaughter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2014, Official Report, columns 594-5W, on official visits, (1) whether the six received requests for special mission status were refused or granted, by country making the request; [198229]

(2) whether any of the six received requests for special mission status were refused (a) by reference to duties to prosecute or extradite persons alleged to have committed or to have ordered to be committed grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention or other international crimes and (b) on other human rights grounds; [198228]

(3) if he will provide details of the six received requests for special mission status; and from which countries they were received. [198230]

Mark Simmonds:
None of the six requests for special mission status to which I referred in my answer to the House of 28 April 2014, Official Report, columns 594-5W, were refused. After consenting to the visits as special missions, two of the visits were subsequently cancelled by the country making the request.

As I noted in my previous answer, in view of the confidentiality of diplomatic exchanges, we have no plans to make public further details about requests that have been granted or refused. But if those applying for special mission status wish to announce the details of their visit to the UK, they are of course at liberty to do so.

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Pakistan

Jim Dobbin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the fairness of the hearing of Asia Noreen Bibi, sentenced to death in 2011 at the provincial Lahore High Court. [198201]

Hugh Robertson:
We receive regular reports on the case of Mrs Bibi and others facing charges of blasphemy in Pakistan and we are aware that a number of NGOs and other governments follow her case closely. We remain concerned about the case of Asia Bibi and would urge the courts in Pakistan to ensure a fair and swift hearing of her appeal due later this month.

Jim Dobbin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Pakistan on (a) the fairness of the hearing of Asia Noreen Bibi who was sentenced to death in 2011 at the provincial Lahore High Court and (b) providing adequate protection to judiciary officials to allow a further hearing to take place. [198202]

Hugh Robertson:
We regularly raise the issue of blasphemy laws, and their misuse against both Muslims and religious minorities, at the highest levels in Pakistan and press the government to ensure fair trials. We remain concerned about the case of Asia Bibi and would urge the courts in Pakistan to ensure a fair and swift hearing of her appeal due later this month. The Prime Minister raised our concerns regarding these laws and the need for reforms during the recent visit of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Swaziland

James Duddridge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports the Government has received on the Zakhele Remand Centre in Swaziland. [198164]

Mark Simmonds:
We have not received any specific reports about the Zakhele Remand Centre. However, we remain concerned by the human rights situation in Swaziland, including restrictions to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. We call on the Swazi Government to respect the human rights of all detainees and the independence of the judiciary. We will continue to work with international partners including the EU, US, Commonwealth and the South African Development Community (SADC) to exert international pressure for change.

James Duddridge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will instruct HM High Commissioner to Swaziland to raise the case of Mario Masuku and the Zakhele Remand Centre with the Swaziland Government. [198204]

Mark Simmonds:
We will continue to raise human rights concerns, such as Mr Masuku’s arrest and current detention with the Swazi authorities at senior levels. The UK has no permanent diplomatic presence in Swaziland. However, our high commission in South

James Duddridge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the arrest of Mario Masuku in Swaziland. [198215]

Mark Simmonds:
We are concerned by the arrests of Mario Masuku and Maxwell Dlamini at a Workers' Event in Swaziland on 1 May. They have been charged under the Sedition and Subversive Activities and Suppression of Terrorism Acts and continue to be held in custody pending trial proceedings. We are also concerned by the situation of Thulani Maseko, a lawyer, and Bheki Makhubu, a journalist, who remain in custody in Swaziland following their re-arrest on 9 April 2014. We encourage the Swazi Government to respect the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly in Swaziland, as set out in the Swazi constitution, and their international human rights obligations.

Syria

Chris Evans:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment his Department has made of the situation of Christian communities in Syria. [198237]

Hugh Robertson:
The ongoing crisis has clearly had a devastating impact on Christians, and on all of Syria’s communities. We remain deeply concerned by the situation for Christian communities in Syria, including in Raqqah and Kessab.

This reinforces the need for us to support the moderate opposition who, as the UN Commission of Inquiry has acknowledged, have a pluralist and democratic vision for Syria and who are fighting extremist groups such as ISIL which pose a grave threat to Christians and others.

Western Sahara

Cathy Jamieson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who the de facto administering power is in the area of Western Sahara not under Moroccan control; and if he will make a statement. [198207]

Hugh Robertson:
The UK does not regard any power as the de facto administrator of that part of the territory of Western Sahara not under Moroccan control.

Deputy Prime Minister

Business Growth: Basildon and Thurrock

9. Stephen Metcalfe:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what support the Government is giving to business growth opportunities in Basildon and Thurrock. [903986]

Greg Clark:
Basildon and Thurrock are key economic centres within the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) area. The LEP submitted its Strategic Economic Plan and Growth Deal at the end of March which is currently being assessed and negotiated.

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The Growth Deal contains proposals for direct business support by extending the Southend Growth Hub announced in its City Deal recently.

Other funding is also being invested through Regional Growth Fund, Growing Places Fund, and through investment in major transport improvements on the M25 and Dartford Crossing to reduce congestion and enhance connectivity to the ports.

Members of Parliament: Recall

10. Mr Hanson:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to bring forward legislative proposals for the recall of hon. Members by their constituents. [903987]

The Deputy Prime Minister:
The Government remain committed to introducing a recall mechanism which is transparent, robust and fair when parliamentary time allows. We reiterated this commitment in our response to the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee’s report on recall.

The Government’s legislative programme for the fourth Session of Parliament will be announced in the Queen’s Speech.

Political and Constitutional Reform

11. Mrs Lewell-Buck:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the Government's political and constitutional reform priorities are for the remainder of the present Parliament. [903989]

The Deputy Prime Minister:
The Government continue to work on political and constitutional reform, particularly on devolving more powers from Whitehall to our cities and regions.

Work also continues on the implementation of Individual Electoral Registration, recall of MPs and implementing the statutory register of consultant lobbyists.

Electoral Register

12. Mrs Hodgson:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps the Government are taking to raise the number of people registered to vote. [903990]

13. Luciana Berger:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps the Government are taking to raise the number of people registered to vote. [903991]

Greg Clark:
The Government are introducing online registration as of 10 June in England and Wales which will make it more convenient to register to vote.

In addition, five national organisations and every electoral registration officer in Great Britain are sharing £4.2 million funding aimed at maximising the rate of voter registration, as part of the transition to individual electoral registration. These organisations have received funding to find new ways of reaching a range of under-registered groups such as young people and encouraging them to register to vote.

Chris Ruane:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister with reference to the answer of 6 September 2010, Official Report, column 304W, on electoral register, if he will

13 May 2014 : Column 442W

bring forward legislative proposals to provide for penalties against local authorities which fail to provide sufficient funding and resources to enable electoral registration officers to fulfil their statutory responsibilities. [197930]

Greg Clark:
Section 54 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 sets out that any expenses properly incurred by an ERO in the performance of their functions must be paid by the local authority that appointed them.

Chris Ruane:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which local authorities have achieved the highest increase in levels of voter registration in the last two years; and what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the practices leading to such increases are adopted in other local authorities. [197961]

Greg Clark:
In 2012-13 the areas with the five largest percentage increases in the numbers registered on the local government register of electors were:

Tower Hamlets

Wycombe

Cambridge

East Lindsey

City of Edinburgh

In 2011-12 the areas were:

Clackmannanshire

Thanet

West Lothian

City of Edinburgh

Shropshire UA

The Government encourage local authorities to share best practice through the Expert Panel of electoral administrators, and various other forums in place to deliver Individual Electoral Registration.

Guidance has also been available on the Association of Electoral Administrators’ website with examples of good practice which electoral registration officers can use to shape their work.

Referendums

Charlie Elphicke:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he has reviewed the efficacy of the guidance of the Electoral Commission on referendums; and if he will make a statement. [903992]

Greg Clark:
The Government have not reviewed the efficacy of guidance produced by the independent Electoral Commission.

Respite Care

Paul Maynard:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which organisations have received how much funding from his Office aimed at supporting access to short breaks and respite provision for children, young people and their families experiencing all types of disadvantage in each of the last five financial years. [197822]

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The Deputy Prime Minister:
The Deputy Prime Minister's Office does not itself fund organisations that support short breaks and respite provision. The Department for Education has policy responsibility for this area.

Defence

Al-Sweady Inquiry

Nicholas Soames:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of all invoices submitted by public interest lawyers for work undertaken in relation to Al-Sweady Inquiry. [196973]

Mr Francois:
The Al-Sweady Inquiry has cost the public purse £28.4 million to 31 March 2014. The potential cost of the Inquiry to its completion is £31.1 million.

The information requested is commercial in confidence and cannot be provided without a significant level of redaction of sensitive information.

However I am able to provide a summary of costs incurred by public interest lawyers for work undertaken in relation to the Al-Sweady Inquiry up to 31 March 2014.

Summary of payments made to public interest lawyers in relation to the Al-Sweady Inquiry.

Date of payment

Amount of payment (£)

March 2010

6,921.60

August 2010

68,060.36

October 2010

45,752.15

February 2011

41,581.11

May 2011

94,154.64

June 2011

6,210.00

July 2011

33,828.33

September 2011

10,113.68

November 2011

6,445.34

December 2011

2,421.51

January 2012

68,343.35

February 2012

37,838.53

April 2012

21,775.17

May 2012

47,491.94

June 2012

16,328.20

July 2012

5,200.00

August 2012

220.60

September 2012

10,115.00

November 2012

100,587.10

December 2012

46,352.33

January 2013

99,208.41

February 2013

51,117.56

March 2013

74,356.24

May 2013

197,070.38

June 2013

107,544.50

July 2013

164,335.64

August 2013

85,516.25

September 2013

33,091.25

October 2013

176,401.67

November 2013

187,376.83

January 2014

174,806.09

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February 2014

36,133.25

March 2014

59,093.74

April 2014

301,909.00

Grand Total

2,417,701.75

Employment Tribunals Service

Mrs Moon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of all Employment Tribunal judgements made against his Department since 2008 to date; and if he will make a statement. [193112]

Anna Soubry:
I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

Substantive answer from Anna Soubry to Mrs Moon:

In my answer of 1 April 2014 (Official Report, column 622W) I promised to write in response to your request for copies of all Employment Tribunal judgments that have been made against the Ministry of Defence since 2008.

There have been six such judgments between 2008 and 2013. Arrangements have been made for copies of those judgments to be placed in the Library of the House. I am aware that in a previous answer (Official Report, 31 March 2014, column 441-2W) I advised that there had been seven judgments made against the Department, however the number of judgments for 2012 included a claim which was actually settled before it went to tribunal.

One of the six judgments was subject to an Employment Tribunal, Employment Appeal Tribunal and then Court of Appeal—I have only provided a copy of the Court of Appeal decision.

European Fighter Aircraft

Angus Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what collision warning system is currently being tested on Typhoon aircraft; when he expects testing to be completed; when a decision will be taken to install such a system; and what the estimated total cost is. [194523]

Mr Dunne:
Analysis is currently underway into potential collision warning system capability for Typhoon. A system has not yet been fitted on a Typhoon aircraft for testing.

It is not possible at this stage to provide a timetable for the development of this capability, or for the decision on whether to install such a system on the aircraft. Similarly, it is too early to estimate the likely cost of such a system.

Legal Costs

Sadiq Khan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how much his Department spent in total on external legal advice (a) between 7 May 2010 and 4 September 2012 and (b) since 4 September 2012; [157644]

(2) what the top 20 highest amounts paid by his Department for external legal advice was in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; who received each such payment; and for what reasons the legal advice was sought in each case; [158112]

(3) how much his Department spent on external legal advice from Queen's Counsel (a) between 7 May 2010 and 4 September 2012 and (b) since 4 September 2012; [158148]

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(4) what the highest day rate paid for external legal advice by his Department has been since 7 May 2010. [158149]

Mr Francois:[holding answer 5 June 2013]:The Ministry of Defence delegates authority for expenditure on external legal advice within the Department and it will therefore take time to collate the information.

I will write to the right hon. Member with the information requested.

Substantive answer from Anna Soubry to Sadiq Khan:

My predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mark Francois), undertook to write to you in response to your Parliamentary Questions 157644, 158112, 158148 and 158149 of 17 June 2013 (Official Report, column 498W) about the Ministry of Defence's spending on external legal advice.

I apologise for the length of time it has taken to respond. This is because legal costs are not accounted for in a manner which readily corresponds with the questions as framed. To establish such costs in the manner requested cannot be done without a further substantial manual examination of detailed financial and contractual records held across the Ministry of Defence. I regret therefore that we do not hold information in a form that would allow us to give you a fully comprehensive response.

Question 157644

In broad terms, however, our legal costs have been in the region of £30 million in financial year 2010-11, £25 million in 2011-12 and £28 million in 2012-13. We also recovered some £20 million of legal costs to the Defence budget in 2010-11. These annual figures include expenditure with the Treasury Solicitor's Department and other external legal advice and guidance. The figures do not include external legal work commissioned by the single Service legal branches or by the Service Prosecuting Authority, or miscellaneous expenditure such as the use of external patent attorneys or advice sought in foreign jurisdictions.

Question 158112

From the information which we hold, the following listing outlines the top twenty amounts paid to external law firms under our Commercial Framework arrangements and may be of use to you.

2010-11

Service Provider

Nature of Service

Payments (£)

Pinsent Masons LLP

Provision of legal services to MOD and its Agencies

917,844

Simmons and Simmons LLP

Fees for professional services

804,716

Dentons UKMEALLP

Provision of legal services to MOD and its Agencies

746,220

Pinsent Masons LLP

Fees for professional services

448,415

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP

Fees for professional services

375,483

Mills and Reeve LLP

Provision of legal services to MOD and its Agencies

369,939

Herbert Smith LLP

Fees for professional services

213,260

Wragge and Co LLP

Provision of legal services to MOD and its Agencies

196,717

Dentons UKMEALLP

Provision of legal services to MOD and its Agencies

186,853

Simmons and Simmons LLP

Fees for professional services

172,386

Burges Salmon LLP

Fees for professional services

161,247

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP

Fees for professional services

99,043

Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP

Provision of legal services to MOD and its Agencies

52,168

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP

Fees for professional services

47,003

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Denton UKMEA LLP

Fees for professional services

32,007

Pinsent Masons LLP

Legal fees for land acquisition/disposal

30,243

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP

Fees for professional services

26,955

Simmons and Simmons LLP

Fees for professional services

25,198

Mills and Reeve LLP

Fees for professional services

15,846

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP

Provision of legal services to MOD and its Agencies

14,115

2011-12

Service Provider

Nature of Service

Payments (£)

Dentons UKMEALLP

Provision of legal services to MOD and its Agencies

835,605

Wragge and Co LLP

Provision of legal services to MOD and its Agencies

725,686

Pinsent Masons LLP

Fees for professional services

631,518

Denton UKMEA LLP

Provision of legal services to MOD and its Agencies

496,839

Mills and Reeve LLP

Provision of legal services to MOD and its Agencies

378,512

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP

Fees for professional services

261,917

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP

Fees for professional services

188,477

Simmons and Simmons LLP

Provision of legal services to MOD and its Agencies

143,575

SNR Denton UK LLP

Fees for professional services

123,831

Wragge and Co LLP

Fees for professional services

63,837

Simmons and Simmons LLP

Fees for professional services

41,186

Pinsent Masons LLP

Provision of legal services to MOD and its Agencies

37,843

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP

Fees for professional services

37,529

Burges Salmon LLP

Fees for professional services

29,873

Allen and Overy LLP

Fees for professional services

25,504

Wragge and Co LLP

Fees for professional services

19,717

Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP

Provision of legal services to MOD and its Agencies

12,134

Wragge and Co LLP

Fees for professional services

11,042

Simmons and Simmons LLP

Fees for professional services

6,984

Denton UKMEA LLP

Fees for professional services

4,077

2012-13

Service Provider

Nature of Service

Payments

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP

Legal services in support of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation's change programme

2,660,887

Linklaters LLP

Provision of legal services to MOD and its Agencies

1,469,501

Denton UKMEA LLP

[Provision of legal services to MOD and its Agencies

1,379,965

Denton UKMEA LLP

Provision of legal services to MOD and its Agencies

974,966

Simmons and Simmons LLP

Provision of legal services to MOD and its Agencies

675,281

Simmons and Simmons LLP

Provision of legal services to MOD and its Agencies

470,389

Wragge and Co LLP

Provision of legal services to MOD and its Agencies

452,384

Burges Salmon LLP

Fees for professional services

396,962

13 May 2014 : Column 447W

Wragge and Co LLP

Provision of legal services to MOD and its Agencies

283,043

Mills and Reeve LLP

Provision of legal services to MOD and its Agencies

182,935

Allen and Overy LLP

Legal services for Defence Spectrum sale

172,192

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP

Fees for professional services

165,628

Pinsent Masons LLP

Fees for professional services

159,163

Pinsent Masons LLP

Fees for professional services

154,971

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP

Fees for professional services

75,108

Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP

Provision of legal services to MOD and its Agencies

64,186

Mills and Reeve LLP

Provision of legal services to MOD and its Agencies

62,909

Burges Salmon LLP

Government Procurement Service Framework Lot 8

39,920

Burges Salmon LLP

Provision of legal services to MOD and its Agencies

38,549

Wragge and Co LLP

Fees for professional services

29,596

Question 158148

We do not hold separate records of the amount spent on external legal advice from Queen's Counsel.

Question 158149

The maximum hourly rate under the framework contracts we mostly use is just under £500.

I hope that this information goes some way to answering your questions.

Public Expenditure

Nicholas Soames:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's cost of defence output categories taxonomy. [196961]

Mr Philip Hammond:
The Ministry of Defence's cost of defence taxonomy is as follows:

Frigates

Aircraft Carriers

Destroyers

Lynx Mk 3/8

Minehunters

Patrol vessels

Survey vessels and Ice Patrol

RW (SAR)

Test, Simulation

Landing Platform Dock

Landing Platform Helicopter

Landing Ship Dock

Sea King Mk 7 ASaC, Mk 5 SAR

Army Manning/Training Margin

Army phase 1 training

Army phase 2 training

Army phase 3 training

Defence CBRN Wing

Civilian Training

Light Brigades

Air Assault Brigade

Armoured Brigades

Attack Helicopters

13 May 2014 : Column 448W

Support Helicopters

Mech Brigades

RAF Force Protection

RAF Reserves

Royal Marines

RNR and RMR

Logistic Brigades

2 MED Brigade

Defence Medical Services

Artillery Regts

Engr Regts

Signals Regts

HQ Theatre Troops

Commitments staff

PJHQ, JFHQ, Theatre HQs

Battle-Space Command and Control Communications and Information Systems

IS and Communications Capability Projects

Deployed Ops supporting units

Deployable HQ

Maritime Warfare Centre

Joint Combat Aircraft

Tornado

Nuclear Deterrent

Nuclear Estate

Merlin

Ship Submarine Ballistic Nuclear

Ship Submarine Nuclear

Estate Disposals

MOD Estate

Regional Prime Contracts

Service Families Accommodation

Single Living Accommodation

Supporting infrastructure (utilities)

Sustainability (DE&S War Reserves/Op Stocks)

IS for Logistics

Permanent Joint Operating Bses

A400M

BAe125

BAe146

C17

Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft

Hercules

Tristar

VC10

Auxiliary Oiler

Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment

Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Forward Repair Ship

Joint Casualty Treatment Ship

Defence Intelligence Staff

ASTOR

E3-D

Rivet Joint

Ballistic Missile Early Warning System

Electronic Warfare

UK Air Surveillance and Control

Army Joint and Collective Training

Specialist Training

13 May 2014 : Column 449W

Defence Academy

RAF Joint and Collective Training

RN Joint and Collective Training

RAF Manning/Training Margin

RAF phase 1 training

RAF phase 2 training

RAF phase 3 training

Army Cadets

Army Recruiting

RAF Cadets

RAF Recruiting

RAF Aerobatic Team

RN Cadets

RN Recruiting

Regional Forces—Northern Ireland

Regional Forces—Germany

Regional Forces—GB

SIT Outputs

Army Reserves

RN Manning/Training Margin

RN phase 1 training

RN phase 2 training

RN phase 3 training

MOD Police and Guarding

Special Forces

Typhoon

Fleet Air Arm Fixed Wing.

Nicholas Soames:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of his Department’s output maps. [196962]

Mr Philip Hammond:
I regret that I must withhold the requested information as its disclosure would or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Radioactive Waste: Fife

Mr Gordon Brown:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to publish the remedial action plan for Dalgety bay; and when he expects to begin a consultation on that plan. [197890]

Mr Dunne:
The right hon. Member will be aware that the Ministry of Defence remains committed to working alongside the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and other interested parties as part of a coalition to address the issue of radioactive contamination at Dalgety bay in the long term.

I am pleased to be able to report that the Department remains on track to define and deliver a proposal informed by the work of Public Health England and the more detailed risk assessment for SEPA to assess the wider implications of implementation on stakeholders and the local community from the end of June 2014.

13 May 2014 : Column 450W

Home Department

Airguns

Diana Johnson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate her Department has made of the number of air rifles in the UK. [198134]

Norman Baker:
Only air rifles which have a discharge velocity of 12ft lbs are held on a firearms certificate.

The police National Firearms Licensing Management System (NFLMS) shows that as of 12 May, 11,852 such air rifles were held on certificate in England and Wales.

Low-powered air rifles (those below 12ft lbs discharge velocity) are not licensed in England and Wales. It is therefore not possible to provide an estimate of the number of air rifles which fall into this classification.

Asylum: Deportation

Mr Hanson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been removed from the UK under the Dublin Convention in each year since 2010. [197239]

Note:
The figures quoted have been derived from management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols.

Removals fell in 2011 and 2012 because we stopped transferring asylum applicants to Greece under the Dublin Regulation in 2010. This was because it was found conditions there amounted to a breach of article 3 of ECHR. There then followed similar litigation around conditions in Italy, but we are still able to effect transfers there.

Asylum: Syria

Keith Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have arrived in the UK under the Syrian refugee programme. [196250]

James Brokenshire:
To date 24 Syrians have arrived in the UK under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme, with the first group arriving at the end of March and a further group in April. We will not be releasing any further details; such as where they are travelling from, their specific vulnerabilities, or where they will be placed.

The scheme is based on need, rather than being designed to meet a quota. However, we will continue to bring groups here on a regular basis, and envisage that several hundred people will be helped over the next three years.

13 May 2014 : Column 451W

Deportation

Sarah Teather:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons she will no longer fund the detention element of the Choices service from 1 April 2014; whether an alternative assisted voluntary returns programme will be made available to immigration detainees; and what assessment she has made of the potential effects of this decision on the number of (a) assisted voluntary returns and (b) enforced removals. [194689]

James Brokenshire:
An assessment of the impact of this change is in train and the range of possible alternatives is complex. A full written response on the issue will be provided to the Member in due course, and the letter placed in the House Library.

Sarah Teather:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration detainees left the UK through the assisted voluntary returns programmes in each of the last five years. [194690]

James Brokenshire:
For the last five years, the numbers of detainees who have left the UK annually through AVR programmes are as follows:

Detainees departing through AVR

2009

585

2010

824

2011

848

2012

1,150

2013

2,081

The figures provided are sourced from a Home Office management information system which is not quality assured under National Statistics protocols and is subject to change due to internal data quality checking. Figures provided from this source do not constitute part of National Statistics and should be treated as provisional.

Deportation: Offenders

Mr Hanson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time was between a deportation order being made on a foreign national offender and their deportation in each year since 2010. [193470]

James Brokenshire:
The average length of time between a deportation order being made on a foreign national offender and their deportation in each year since 2010 is as follows: 143 days in 2010, 148 days in 2011, 174 days in 2012 and 187 days in 2013.

The increase in average time taken is driven mainly by serving more deportation orders earlier in the process, sometimes up to 27 months before sentence end date, to enable removal to take place as early as possible within the early removal scheme (ERS) period. The by-product of starting the deportation process earlier is that we have to wait longer to enforce a person’s removal, which artificially inflates the view on the average time taken to deport.

13 May 2014 : Column 452W

Deportation: Somalia

Hilary Benn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the removal of asylum seekers to Somalia; and if she will make a statement. [197448]

James Brokenshire:
I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 March 2014, Official Report, column 327W.

Domestic Violence

Diana Johnson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many calls were made to the National Domestic Violence Helpline in 2013; and how many such calls mentioned use of (a) any weapon and (b) a firearm. [198132]

Norman Baker:
The Home Office provides funding to the National Domestic Violence Helpline, which is run jointly by Women’s Aid and Refuge. Latest management information provided by Women’s Aid and Refuge sets out that in the first half of financial year 2013/2014 (April-September 2013), the National Domestic Violence Helpline received 78,894 calls.

The data do not provide information on the number of calls that mention the use of any weapon or firearms.

Diana Johnson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of incidents of domestic violence involving a legally owned (a) firearm and (b) airgun in each of the last five years. [198133]

Norman Baker:
The requested information is not available centrally.

The Home Office is notified by police forces in England and Wales of how many domestic abuse incidents they have dealt with but it is not possible from this information to say how many involved firearms (whether legally owned or not) or air weapons.

Emergency Services: Telecommunications

Alun Cairns:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the potential benefits and risks of commercial mobile networks providing the emergency services communications network. [197008]

James Brokenshire:
The potential benefits and risks have been considered in detail as part of the Outline Business Case, which recommended this direction of travel and was approved by the emergency services, lead departments and the devolved Governments of Wales and Scotland during March 2014. These risks and issues will be updated as the Full Business Case is developed during the procurement phase, which was launched on 14 April 14.

Entry Clearances

Adam Afriyie:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations she has received on removing the requirement to top up investments held by individuals on Tier 1 (Investor) visas; [197733]

13 May 2014 : Column 453W

(2) what representations she has received on extending the list of investment products that individuals can use to qualify for a Tier 1 (Investor) visa. [197735]

James Brokenshire:
The Home Office has had meetings with a number of immigration law firms who represent Tier 1 (Investor) clients in which these issues have been raised. The firms consider that removing the requirement to top up investments, and extending the list of qualifying investments, would attract more investors to the UK and encourage investments which would lead to greater returns.

The Government are currently considering its response to the report on the Tier 1 (Investor) route published by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) on 25 February 2014, which made recommendations on these issues. We will announce our decisions in due course.

Human Trafficking

John Glen:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the nationality and gender was of each suspected victim of trafficking referred to the Trafficking Victim Support Scheme operated by the Salvation Army in April 2014; in which (a) region and (b) county each of the suspected victims was found; which agency referred each person to the Scheme; in which town the shelter was in which each such victim was placed for the relevant period; and what contact there is with each victim after they exit the shelter to ensure that they are not re-trafficked. [197880]

Karen Bradley:
In April 2014, there were 111 referrals to the Government-funded support service for adult victims of human trafficking in England and Wales, administered by the Salvation Army. In the interests of victim safety, only the region in which the victim was encountered is provided, and not which town they were placed in. Once an individual receives a Conclusive Grounds decision they will be given tailored support to safely return home or integrate in the UK. Once they exit the service, no formal mechanisms exist to maintain contact.

Details of the 111 referrals in April are provided in the following table:

Nationality

Gender

Region

Agency type

Albanian

Female

South

Home Office

Albanian

Female

South East

Home Office

Albanian

Male

East Midlands

Local Authority

Albanian

Female

Not Known

Home Office

Albanian

Female

Not Known

Home Office

Albanian

Female

South East

Home Office

Albanian

Female

South East

Home Office

Albanian

Female

South East

Police

Albanian

Female

South East

Home Office

Albanian

Female

South

Home Office

Albanian

Female

West Midlands

Home Office

Albanian

Female

South

Home Office

Albanian

Female

South East

Home Office

Albanian

Female

South

Health Services

Albanian

Female

West Midlands

Home Office

Albanian

Female

South East

Home Office

Albanian

Female

South

Home Office

Albanian

Female

West Midlands

Home Office

13 May 2014 : Column 454W

Albanian

Female

West Midlands

Home Office

Albanian

Female

South

NGO

Albanian

Female

South East

Home Office

Albanian

Female

West Midlands

Home Office

Albanian

Female

South East

NGO

Albanian

Female

South

Police

Albanian

Female

South East

Home Office

Bangladeshi

Male

South

Home Office

British

Female

North East

Local Authority

British

Female

South

Police

British

Female

North West

Self Referral

British

Male

South East

Police

British

Female

East Midlands

Police

British

Female

West Midlands

Local Authority

British

Male

Not Known

Police

British

Female

South East

Police

Cameroonian

Female

South East

NGO

Cameroonian

Male

South

NGO

Chinese

Male

South East

Health Services

Chinese

Female

South East

Home Office

Chinese

Female

Wales

Home Office

Chinese

Female

West Midlands

Legal Representative

Chinese

Male

Yorkshire

Home Office

Czech

Male

South West

Police

Czech

Male

Yorkshire

NGO

Czech

Female

South East

Police

Democratic Republic of Congo

Female

Yorkshire

Home Office

Eritrean

Female

West Midlands

Home Office

Eritrean

Female

West Midlands

Home Office

Filipino

Female

South

NGO

Ghanaian

Male

South

Home Office

Ghanaian

Female

North West

Police

Guyanian

Female

South East

Home Office

Hungarian

Male

Yorkshire

NGO

Hungarian

Male

South East

Police

Indian

Female

South East

Police

Indian

Female

North East

NGO

Indonesian

Female

South

NGO

Kenyan

Female

South East

NGO

Korean

Female

Yorkshire

Home Office

Latvian

Male

West Midlands

Police

Latvian

Female

South East

Home Office

Latvian

Female

West Midlands

Other

Lithuanian

Male

South

Police

Lithuanian

Male

South East

Police

Lithuanian

Female

South East

Police

Lithuanian

Male

Yorkshire

NGO

Malaysian

Male

South East

NGO

Nigerian

Female

South East

Police

Nigerian

Female

Not Known

Home Office

Nigerian

Female

Wales

Legal Representative

Nigerian

Female

South East

Police

Nigerian

Female

South

Home Office

Nigerian

Female

South

Home Office

Nigerian

Female

South East

Legal Representative

Nigerian

Female

Yorkshire

Home Office

Nigerian

Female

South

Home Office

Nigerian

Female

South

NGO

Nigerian

Female

North West

Home Office

Nigerian

Female

South East

Police

Nigerian

Female

South

Home Office

13 May 2014 : Column 455W

Nigerian

Female

South

NGO

Pakistani

Female

East

Home Office

Pakistani

Male

South

Self Referral

Pakistani

Trans-gender

South East

NGO

Polish

Male

East Midlands

Self Referral

Romanian

Male

South West

Police

Romanian

Male

South West

Police

Romanian

Male

South West

Police

Romanian

Male

South West

Police

Romanian

Female

South

Police

Romanian

Male

West Midlands

Police

Romanian

Male

West Midlands

Police

Romanian

Male

West Midlands

Police

Romanian

Male

South

Police

Romanian

Male

South

Police

Senegalese

Female

South East

NGO

Sierra Leone

Male

Yorkshire

Home Office

Sierra Leone

Male

South East

Local Authority

Sierra Leone

Female

South East

Police

Slovakian

Female

West Midlands

Police

Slovakian

Female

North West

Police

Sri Lankan

Female

South East

Home Office

Tanzanian

Female

North East

Home Office

Ugandan

Female

East Midlands

Home Office

Ugandan

Female

South

NGO

Ugandan

Female

South East

Police

Unknown

Female

Yorkshire

Police

Vietnamese

Female

South East

Local Authority

Vietnamese

Male

South West

NGO

Vietnamese

Male

South West

Police

Vietnamese

Female

South East

Home Office

Vietnamese

Male

South East

NGO

Graham Evans:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officials are employed in her Department's Human Trafficking Unit; what the purpose of the unit is; and what the role is of each such official. [198147]

Karen Bradley:
A dedicated Modern Slavery Unit has been set up in the Home Office to lead and coordinate cross-Government activity to stamp out this terrible crime. The Modern Slavery Unit currently comprises 13 members of staff and is responsible for a comprehensive programme of activity, which includes development of the Modern Slavery Bill, and management of the adult victim care contract. In addition, one member of staff has been seconded from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to lead on international issues. There are also six members of staff working on the review of the National Referral Mechanism. This team is independent of the Modern Slavery Unit.

The Modern Slavery Unit is further supported by a number of staff across the Home Office who work on related modern slavery issues including child trafficking and the Gangmasters Licensing Authority. This is in addition to the operational caseworkers in UK Visas and Immigration, who are involved in decision making on individual cases.

Michael Connarty:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his Department's priorities are for provisions to be included in the forthcoming Modern Slavery Bill. [903852]

13 May 2014 : Column 456W

Karen Bradley:
The Modern Slavery Bill is an important step in the fight against modern slavery. The provisions in the Bill are designed to protect victims and strengthen the law enforcement response. Increased sentences, restricting the activities of those who pose a risk to others and introducing an Anti-Slavery Commissioner will ensure that law enforcement have the tools they need to prosecute and convict the perpetrators of this abhorrent crime, while at the same time protecting more people from becoming victims of this appalling crime.